With consumers trading-in their mobile devices more frequently when they purchase new ones, wireless carriers, retailers and OEMs have taken notice and started to include the sale of pre-owned devices in their promotional efforts.

A mobile device trade-in program isn’t a mysterious operation that should be analyzed with guesswork or even trepidation. Such a program can indeed be scrutinized like any other transactional business process.

Surely, your business has all the angles down when reviewing other types of store sales, expenses, employee performance and other key performance indicators (KPI).

Mobile buyback programs are emerging as an increasingly popular win-win for service providers, resellers, and consumers. Customers who trade-in their old devices receive a sizeable credit toward a new device, and service providers can recoup some of the money spent on upgrade promotions in the second-hand market. Over the years, several trade-in channels have become popular paths for consumers, with each offering a different pricing model. Understanding where you fit in the four major tiers of trade-in programs is essential to determining the prices you can offer.